See artists’ best screened at Davis Film Festival

The 10th annual Davis Film Festival is slated for Sunday, June 23, at the Veterans’ Memorial Theater, 203 E. 14th St. The festival is a one-day a marathon of films from noon to 9 p.m.

Feature-length films and shorts from around the world and Yolo County will be presented in all genres: narrative, documentary, experimental and animation. Question-and-answer sessions with filmmakers are planned.

A festival pass good for the entire day/evening is $12. Tickets are $8 for the afternoon session and $8 for the evening session. Discounts are available for students and senior citizens, and children under 12 will be admitted free with an adult. Tickets are available at Armadillo Music, 205 F St., and at the door.

One of the films is “Idle No More,” based on a movement of the same name that started in December 2012 after Attawaspsikat First Nations Chief Theresa Spence went on a six-week hunger strike to bring attention to issues of poverty and sovereignty in First Nations communities.

Within days, First Nations tribes across Canada began peaceful protests in malls, on highways and on reservation lands in support of the chief’s act of resistance. Within weeks, this movement spread as Native American tribes in the United States also began to join in solidarity staging public gatherings that included thousands of native people. The Native American community in Sacramento aligned themselves with this movement by hosting a gathering at the state Capitol.

Little Thunder Films, a Davis film company, was invited to document this historical event of a coming-together of many California Indian people. Interviews include Native Americans who are longtime educators and tribal advocates in the state.

The “Idle No More” documentary short takes a look at a First Nations movement that has invigorated native peoples across the world, specifically speaking to California Indian tribes.

One of the evening offerings is “Heart to Heart.” This short film by Nicolette Daskalakis is the story of Maggie Cardioid — a literally heartless girl — who longs for love on the eve of Valentine’s Day. She encounters a double-hearted guy, which leads to unexpected results. But can a heartless girl ever fall in love?

“I have always gravitated toward films with a sense of whimsy and magical realism,” the Bay Area native said in a news release. “With Heart to Heart, I strove to create such a storybook world. Yet unlike the classic fairy tales of sleeping princesses and damsels in distress, this story is about finding the confidence and courage to go after what you love. And more importantly, to recognize when it is right in front of you.”

Volunteers are needed to help staff the festival. For more information, call 530-383-1711 or email [email protected].